Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-15
coNsuMPIiVE oATTLE.
Constantly Spreading Dlscaso This
Farmers Must Guard Aqnntt.

A Constantly Spreading DIsca,o That
Farmers Must Guard Asnln,t.
tuberculosis Is due 10 microscopic
parasitic plants called bacteria or
bacilli, which are entirely distinct from
other forms Of microscopic life. and
can be measured and described so as
to be recognized from the description
by those who are sufficiently familiar
with bacterial GERMS, The discovery
Of the germ Is due 10 Prof Koch; a
woll-known German scientist
The disease may be communicated
TO healthy animals by feeding upon
tubcrcular matter, or by innoculation
into the blood. II may bo communi-
Gated from animals to animals, from
man to animals, and without doubt
from animals TO man, though, owing
to the difficulty OF making experi-
mcnts in tho latter direction. there arc
few recorded facts that can be relied
on rs proof
DR. Fleming Boldly advocates max
ing definite experiments TO prove this
point by feeding criminals condemned
TO death upon milk or flesh Of tubor-
cular animals. lie says: 81 do think
that criminals who so far offend
against society Hs 10 taxa hWdy hua
man life should thus be made to atone
TO that society whose moral principles
they have violated.
tuberculosis in cattle is the same
disease IS consumption in man.
Neither afe understood 10 be cHfdblH,
thongh uudrk doctors may Sometimes
Offer remedies to cure consumption.
1t is not produced by lung worms
The word Tuberculosis" is derived
from Latin word meaning small
tubcr Tubcrclcs are Of various sizes,
from that Of millct seed TO that Of
large grapes, and sometimes an nggrc-
| cation dt tuburtlcs form mass weighs
ing a pound or more. They are all
too large to be found in milk or butter.
Chemical analysis is unnecessary for
determining the presence of the dis
ease; it is usually quite apparent to
the naked eye, hut doubtful eases may
need tho microscope to determine their
true nature. Animals sometimes fat
ten well when affected by this disease
in ITS earlier stages. but emaciatiOn is
one Of the cor non symptoms.
Tuburcunsi. 10 d discnse that Il hot
confined to the lungs. though it more
commonly affects those organs. 1t may
locate itself in almost any organ or
part of the body. 1t undoubtedly is n
| frequent cause Of abortion aud bar
rcnncss Il Il transniissiblu from
patent to offspring by hercdity and
from either male or female parent,
but infected parents may produce OFF
spring that will not have the disease,
though prcdispostion to the disease
is greatly increased by having diseased
parents. The disease Is far more com
mon In adults than in the voting OF
animals. 1t prevails moro in warm
than in cold countries, and in hot than
in cold stables, which accounts in part
for It's greater prevalence In herds of
fancy cattle kept in tight, warm barns.
1t Is far more common in districts
where the stock is chiefly purchased
than where it is raised. The buyer is
more or less at the mercy of the seller,
for the latter Is the first to discover in
dicatiuns Of decline in condition of
health and the temptation to UNLOAD"
upon another Is weakness not wholly
confined TO horse Jockeys or dealers in
stocks The disease is most danger
Gus to mankind when badly diseased
meat or milk is eaten without thor
ough cooking. The disease is most
contagious when the tubcrcles nrc
breaking dowu-that is, when they are
ripe and the germs are being thrown
OF from the body in the breath or in
the milk.
There Is no doubt whatever that
tuberculosis in cattle Il increasing rs
our cattle are better housed and pro.
tected. Ones chances of being killed
by drinking milk or eating beef from
tubcrcular animals is probably small,
but nobody wants TO take that small
chance. There should be greater pro-
lection to the public, and there will be
when the people are sufficiently in.
formed. Every person who buys milk
or beef has a right to know that the
animals producing such food are in
good health and not dangerous 20 the
community. NJ J. Herald.